Bridgwater tidal barrier
{{Short description|Tidal flood barrier in Somerset, England}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Bridgwater tidal barrier
| name_official =
| image = Banks of the River Parrett - geograph.org.uk - 1721430.jpg
| image_caption = The intended location of the barrier
| image_alt = A narrow river with steep mudflats on its banks
| location_map = Somerset
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption =
| location_map_alt = Relief map of Somerset
| mapframe =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.1466|-2.9982|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = England
| location = Bridgwater, Somerset
| purpose = Flood control
| status = Under construction
| construction_began = 2023
| opening = 2027 (proposed)
| cost = £249 million (2025)
| builder =
| designed_by =
| owner =
| operator =
| dam_type = Tidal surge barrier
| dam_crosses = River Parrett
| dam_volume = Variable
| website = {{url|https://www.somerset.gov.uk/beaches-ports-and-flooding/bridgwater-tidal-barrier/}}
| extra =
}}
Bridgwater tidal barrier will be a flood control gate located on the River Parrett in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The River Parrett is tidal for some {{convert|9|mi}} upstream of Bridgwater, and the combination of flooding on the Somerset Levels and high tides reaching up the Bristol Channel, have a detrimental effect on the whole area. In 2022, a tidal flood gate was approved to be installed at a cost of £249 million, which is expected to be operational by 2027.
History
Historically, flooding on the River Parrett has occurred when both excess rainwater and high tides in the Bristol Channel, backflow upstream on the river.{{sfn|PCFMP|2009|p=20}} In December 1929, serious flooding upstream at Lyng and Athelney was in danger of overwhelming those villages, and to prevent this, the locals suggested cutting the dykes, but this would release a "tidal wave" {{convert|5|ft}} high, and combined with near {{convert|7|ft}} incoming tide, it was feared mass flooding would occur in the Bridgwater area.{{cite news |title=Bridgwater In danger |work=The Times |issue=45384 |date=12 December 1929 |page=16|issn=0140-0460}} However, by early 1930, the locals had abandoned this idea and they seem "resigned to their fate."{{cite news |title=Somerset floods|work=The Times |issue=45400|date=2 January 1930 |page=9|issn=0140-0460}} Several times, locals on the Somerset Levels have complained that their settlements have been sacrificed to save Bridgwater, but one Environment Agency official noted that that is what the Somerset Levels are supposed to do; retain the floodwater and release it slowly.{{cite news |last1=de Bruxelles |first1=Simon |title=Somerset floods raise anger level |work=The Times |issue=66,716 |date=6 January 2000 |page=9}}{{cite news |last1=de Bruxelles |first1=Simon |title=Fear and water rise on Somerset Levels |work=The Times |issue=71354 |date=14 November 2014 |page=23 |quote=The flooding on the levels can look much more dramatic than it is because large areas are designated flood plain used to store water and prevent problems in Taunton and Bridgwater by slowing the flow downstream.|issn=0140-0460}}
Serious floods occurred in 1960, and as a result, defences against flooding were built along the Parrett catchment.{{sfn|PCFMP|2009|p=6}} One of the suggestions put forward after the 2014 floods was to build a giant lagoon in Bridgwater Bay which could generate electricity through the flowing of the tides, but could be allowed to store fresh floodwater and release it into the sea at low tide.{{cite news |last1=Whipple|first1=Tom|title=Build giant lagoon to save Somerset Levels, says expert |work=The Times |issue=71129 |date=25 February 2014 |page=18|issn=0140-0460}} Future flooding is based on modelling and estimates from the Environment Agency, which detail an increase of 20% of peak flow in all watercourses, coupled with a sea level rise of {{convert|500|mm}} by the year 2100.{{sfn|PCFMP|2009|p=9}}
In December 2019, proposals for the barrier were submitted in response to severe flooding in Somerset in 2014.{{cite news |title=Bridgwater barrage in £100m Somerset flood plan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-26447005 |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=5 March 2014}}{{efn-lr|A proposal for a £7.1 million ({{Inflation|UK|7,100,000|1990|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-3}}) tidal barrier downstream of Bridgwater was suggested in 1990. This would allow sea-going vessels to still access the port at Bridgwater.{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Harry |title=Waterway network plan for Somerset |work=The Times |issue=63824 |date=29 September 1990 |page=25|issn=0140-0460}}|name=1990 barrier|group=note}} The suggestion of a barrier after the flooding of 2014 estimated a cost of £30 million.{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Ben |title=Should we abandon the Somerset Levels, ask experts |work=The Times |issue=71138 |date=7 March 2014 |page=14|issn=0140-0460}} The 2019 plan was costed at £99 million, and was expected to be delivered and operational by 2023, but this was delayed and government approval was not given until January 2022, with a view to the barrier being fully operational in 2027.{{cite news |title=Bridgwater: Decision delayed over £99m flood defence project |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-54031890 |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=4 September 2020}}{{cite news |title=Bridgwater tidal barrier: One of England's biggest flood defences approved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-60124245 |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=25 January 2022}}
Works on the site started in May 2023, beginning with an access road from the western bank by the village of Chilton Trinity. The road is now named Barrier Way, and from April 2024 onwards, it provides a route to the site of the works.{{cite news |last1=Menteth |first1=Thames |title=Enabling works progress on Bridgwater tidal barrier scheme |url=https://www.geplus.co.uk/news/enabling-works-progress-on-bridgwater-tidal-barrier-scheme-10-04-2024/ |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=Ground Engineering |date=10 April 2024 |language=en}} In March 2025, a jack-up barge (the Haven SeaSeven) arrived on site to allow a stable platform in the marine environment, such as allowing a cofferdam to be built.{{cite news |title=Bridgwater Tidal Barrier sees arrival of giant construction barge |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bridgwater-tidal-barrier-sees-arrival-of-giant-construction-barge |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=gov.uk |date=13 March 2025 |language=en}}
When complete, the scheme will provide protection for 11,300 homes, and 1,500 businesses along the river, which is tidal up until Oath Lock, some {{convert|9|mi}} upstream of Bridgwater.{{cite journal |last1=Allen |first1=J |title=Schemes of improvement for the River Parrett: an investigation with the aid of a tidal model |journal=Journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers |date=December 1942 |volume=19 |issue=2 |page=85 |doi=10.1680/ijoti.1942.13845 |publisher=Institution of Civil Engineers |oclc=859585032}}{{cite news |last1=Mumby |first1=Daniel |title=three weeks to have your say on barrier plans |work=The Bridgwater Mercury |date=21 January 2020 |page=7|issn=0962-5046}} The scheme will also see construction of new flood defences downstream of the barrier, and improvements to the fish and eel passes at twelve locations upstream of the barrier.{{cite news |title=Bridgwater Tidal Barrier construction aided by barge arrival |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5dn8p8qj0o |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=14 March 2025}} The design of the barrier has two vertical lift gates that can be dropped down to stem the flow of an incoming tide, and the location will also provide a pedestrian footbridge across the river.{{cite news |last1=Mumby |first1=Daniel |title=Delivering the Bridgwater tidal barrier |work=The Bridgwater Mercury |date=27 September 2022 |page=16|issn=0962-5046}}{{cite news |title=Bridgwater flood prevention scheme given government sign-off |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wk8px99gpo |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=25 September 2024}} The two gates are expected to be {{convert|15|m}} wide, and {{convert|10|m}} high, and it is anticipated that the gates will operate one to five times each year for flood protection, and up to 30 times annually for maintenance.{{cite web |title=Bridgwater Tidal barrier Scheme - downstream flood defences landowner pack |url=https://somersetcc.sharepoint.com/sites/SCCPublic/Business%20%20and%20Economy/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FSCCPublic%2FBusiness%20%20and%20Economy%2FBridgwater%20Tidal%20Barrier%2FBridgwater%20Tidal%20Barrier%20Landowner%20Information%20Pack%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FSCCPublic%2FBusiness%20%20and%20Economy%2FBridgwater%20Tidal%20Barrier&p=true&ga=1 |website=somersetcc.sharepoint.com |access-date=16 March 2025 |page=8 |date=February 2018|url-access=limited}} A bypass channel was created in 2023 to allow for the foundations to be built in the river, and in February 2025, the whole project was costed at £249 million.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Phil |title=Bridgwater tidal barrier construction delayed by asbestos find |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/23155244.asbestos-causes-delay-bridgwater-tidal-barrier/ |access-date=16 March 2025 |work=Somerset County Gazette |date=28 November 2022}}{{cite news |title=One of England's biggest flood defences gets £43m funding boost |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly4xwnlze7o |access-date=14 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=5 February 2025}}
See also
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite report|title=Parrett Catchment Flood Management Plan |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c98e7ed915d6969f46003/Parrett_Catchment_Flood_Management_Plan.pdf|date=December 2009 |access-date=14 March 2025|publisher=Environment Agency|ref={{harvid|PCFMP|2009}} }}
External links
- [https://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/new-video-shows-how-proposed-100m-tidal-barrier-in-river-parrett-will-look/ Video of how the proposed barrier looked in 2019]
- [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/299/note/made Government legislation for the project]
Category:Buildings and structures in Somerset